Patents by Inventor Robert Carl Witham

Robert Carl Witham has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 6896499
    Abstract: Scroll compressors include a tap for communicating a compressed refrigerant to a back pressure chamber to resist a separating force. A restriction is placed within this tap to slow build-up of the back pressure chamber at start-up. Further, the restriction smoothes out any fluctuations in the back pressure force as the pressure in the compression chamber from which the refrigerant is tapped may fluctuate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Assignee: Scroll Technologies
    Inventors: Robert Carl Witham, Gregory William Hahn, Gene Michael Fields, Thomas Robert Barito
  • Publication number: 20040241028
    Abstract: Scroll compressors include a tap for communicating a compressed refrigerant to a back pressure chamber to resist a separating force. A restriction is placed within this tap to slow build-up of the back pressure chamber at start-up. Further, the restriction smoothes out any fluctuations in the back pressure force as the pressure in the compression chamber from which the refrigerant is tapped may fluctuate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2004
    Publication date: December 2, 2004
    Inventors: Robert Carl Witham, Gregory William Hahn, Gene Michael Fields, Thomas Robert Barito
  • Patent number: 6761545
    Abstract: Scroll compressors include a tap for communicating a compressed refrigerant to a back pressure chamber to resist a separating force. A restriction is placed within this tap to slow build-up of the back pressure chamber at start-up. Further, the restriction smoothes out any fluctuations in the back pressure force as the pressure in the compression chamber from which the refrigerant is tapped may fluctuate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2004
    Assignee: Scroll Technologies
    Inventors: Robert Carl Witham, Gregory William Hahn, Gene Michael Fields, Thomas Robert Barito
  • Publication number: 20040126260
    Abstract: Scroll compressors include a tap for communicating a compressed refrigerant to a back pressure chamber to resist a separating force. A restriction is placed within this tap to slow build-up of the back pressure chamber at start-up. Further, the restriction smoothes out any fluctuations in the back pressure force as the pressure in the compression chamber from which the refrigerant is tapped may fluctuate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2002
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Inventors: Robert Carl Witham, Gregory William Hahn, Gene Michael Fields, Thomas Robert Barito
  • Patent number: 6592344
    Abstract: The present invention is for the retention of a heat shield for a scroll compressor. In one embodiment, the heat shield is deformed into a position such that it rests in a groove located in the non-orbiting scroll. In another embodiment the housing end cap deforms the heat shield. The deformed position of the heat shield prevents flexing and vibrating found in heat shields of prior art. In addition the heat shield must have holes in it to allow for the discharge valve to pass through. The present invention is to put slots in the heat shield, thus preventing the need for exact alignment of the heat shield in position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2003
    Assignee: Scroll Technologies
    Inventors: Robert Carl Witham, Marvin Wayne Burchfield, Gregory W. Hahn, Brad Allen Meeks
  • Publication number: 20030099564
    Abstract: The present invention is for the retention of a heat shield for a scroll compressor. In one embodiment, the heat shield is deformed into a position such that it rests in a groove located in the non-orbiting scroll. In another embodiment the housing end cap forms the heat shield. The deformed position of the heat shield prevents flexing and vibrating found in heat shields of prior art. In addition the heat shield must have holes in it to allow for the discharge valve to pass through. The present invention is to put slots in the heat shield, thus preventing the need for exact alignment of the heat shield in position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2001
    Publication date: May 29, 2003
    Inventors: Robert Carl Witham, Marvin Wayne Burchfield, Gregory W. Hahn, Brad Allen Meeks
  • Patent number: 6491500
    Abstract: A scroll compressor is provided with a motor protector mounted at a location remote from the motor. The motor protector is of the sort which operates to stop operation of the motor both when the temperatures in the scroll compressor increases, and when the electrical characteristics of the power supplied to the motor depart from those from which are expected. Preferably, the motor protector is mounted in the non-orbiting scroll. Further, the invention includes means to increase the sensitivity of this motor protector to conditions indicative of an outdoor fan failure. In several embodiments, these means include a valve which opens to communicate hot discharge pressure refrigerant over the valve. In one other embodiment, this means is a heat sink operable to take heat away from the motor protector. In this last embodiment, when the volume flow of refrigerant decreases, the amount of heat taken away also decreases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2002
    Assignee: Scroll Technologies
    Inventors: Zili Sun, Jason Hugenroth, Robert Carl Witham
  • Patent number: 6454538
    Abstract: A scroll compressor is provided with a motor protector for stopping operation of its motor should conditions be indicative of a problem. The motor protector is sensitive to elevated temperature, and stops operation of the motor should a sensed temperature exceed a predetermined maximum. The motor protector is positioned in a chamber in a rear face of a base of the non-orbiting scroll. A port extends through the base of the non-orbiting scroll to connect a motor protector chamber to a suction chamber. Electric wires connect the motor protector to the motor and extend through this same port. In some embodiments, a pressure relief valve also communicates with the motor protector chamber. In one embodiment the motor protector chamber is enclosed by a cap and the pressure relief valve is mounted in that cap. In another embodiment the pressure relief valve extends through a wall of the non-orbiting scroll. In other embodiments, a pair of mating plugs connect the protector to the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2002
    Assignee: Scroll Technologies
    Inventors: Robert Carl Witham, Jason Hugenroth
  • Publication number: 20020110471
    Abstract: A scroll compressor includes an oil supply cross-hole extending radially outwardly to the outer peripheral surface of the base of the orbiting scroll. The cross-hole supplies lubricant against the crankcase towers such that lubricant is supplied to both the Oldham coupling and the seals for the back pressure chamber. The cross-hole is preferably positioned to be between 80° and 90° downstream from the beginning of the orbiting scroll wrap. In this position, adequate oil will be supplied to lubricate the Oldham coupling and the seal, while at the same time, it is unlikely that an undue amount of lubricant will be allowed into the scroll compressor chambers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2001
    Publication date: August 15, 2002
    Applicant: Scroll Technologies
    Inventors: Zili Sun, Robert Carl Witham
  • Patent number: 6422843
    Abstract: A scroll compressor includes an oil supply cross-hole extending radially outwardly to the outer peripheral surface of the base of the orbiting scroll. The cross-hole supplies lubricant against the crankcase towers such that lubricant is supplied to both the Oldham coupling and the seals for the back pressure chamber. The cross-hole is preferably positioned to be between 80° and 90° downstream from the beginning of the orbiting scroll wrap. In this position, adequate oil will be supplied to lubricate the Oldham coupling and the seal, while at the same time, it is unlikely that an undue amount of lubricant will be allowed into the scroll compressor chambers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2002
    Assignee: Scroll Technologies
    Inventors: Zili Sun, Robert Carl Witham